65 



CITY OF WRANGELL, ALASKA 



FERN NEIMEYER TONGASS TESTIMONY 

 PAGE 2 



THIS IS A FRIGHTENING PROSPECT. WE HAVE HAD MILL CLOSURES IN THE 



PAST AND EXPERIENCED THE MENTAL AND ECONOMIC TRAUMA OF AN 



IMMEDIATE 30% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. IT WOULD BE GROSSLY UNFAIR TO 



THE PEOPLE OF WRANGELL AND SOUTHEAST ALASKA IF THEY ARE SUBJECTED 



TO HARD LINE LEGISLATION THAT POSES THE PROSPECT OF ECONOMIC 



DEPREDATION. RADICAL LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THAT CATER TO SPECIAL 



INTERESTS WILL SOLVE NOTHING. THERE IS ROOM FOR COMPROMISE. 



THE SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE HAS DEVELOPED A POLICY POSITION 

 REGARDING LEGISLATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE TONGASS NATIONAL 

 FOREST. I BELIEVE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL 

 COMMITTEE HAVE RECEIVED COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT. THE SOUTHEAST 

 POLICY POSITION ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF A BROAD CROSS SECTION 

 OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TONGASS. THE CITY OF WRANGELL HAS 

 ENDORSED THE SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE POSITION PAPER BECAUSE WE 

 BELIEVE IT IS AN HONEST COMPROMISE. TO US THIS DOCUMENT 

 REPRESENTS A CONSCIENTIOUS APPROACH TO THE NEEDS AND WISE 

 UTILIZATION OF ALL THE RESOURCES IN THE TONGASS INCLUDING THE 

 PEOPLE. WE ASK THAT YOU UTILIZE THIS DOCUMENT AS A REFERENCE TO 

 CREATE TONGASS LEGISLATION THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH IN HARMONY. 



^-^■^ '^ 



SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME THIS 



FERNNEIMEYp 



j:1 



JlZj^Ki OF //2^^V^ .1989 



TAkY PUBLIC', STATE OF ALASKA 

 MY COMMISSION EXPIRES: 



